FIFA ORDER of MERIT FOR "THE CLUB"

When the nickname of your club is "The Club", you need a bit of history to expain why, where, who, when??? etc! History is one thing that Sheffield FC has, more of than any other club; Sheffield FC is THE OLDEST CLUB in the World, established on this day in 1857. Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest founded the club that has been recognised by FIFA as the oldest in the World, joining Real Madrid as the only teams to have been given "The Order of Merit". 

Honours: Sheffield FC join Real Madrid at football’s top table FIFA Order of Merit. There are only two football clubs in the world with a FIFA Order of Merit. One is Real Madrid, the other is Sheffield FC!! NOW THERE'S A PIECE OF HISTORY!!

Sheffield FC, Chairman, Richard Tims, stood alongside Madrid legends Alfredo di Stefano and Emilio Butragueno to receive the award at a glittering ceremony in Paris in 2004. FIFA’s Executive Committee bestowed the highly prestigious honour on Sheffield FC for the club’s historic importance and contribution to the world’s most popular sport. Madrid were decorated for being the most successful club in Europe over the last 100 years. Following the awards ceremony, Sheffield FC officials were whisked to FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, where they presented FIFA President Sepp Blatter with a framed photograph of the Sheffield side from 1857.

The chairman of Sheffield FC, widely considered to be the world's first football club, has left the role after 27 years.

The club, which currently plays at Sheffield Road, Dronfield, but is hoping to move to a new site at Meadowhead in Sheffield, was founded on October  24th 1857 and played a key role in providing the rules of modern football.

Announcing the news on Tuesday, Richard Tims wrote: "It is with heavy heart that after 27 years of service I have left [Sheffield FC]". He said he could not share "the specifics" of the decision.

In a joint statement, the directors of Sheffield FC said: "We would like to take the opportunity to thank Richard for his dedication and invaluable contribution" to the club."

• The club competes in the United Counties League Premier Division North (the ninth tier of English football), at the Coach & Horses Ground (known as the Home of Football Stadium) in Dronfield, Derbyshire.
Current Status: Recognized by FIFA as the world's oldest existing independent football club, the team is actively playing through the 2026/27 season under manager Craig Denton. 

Image source,Sheffield FC

Image caption,

The club added: "Richard's efforts have been instrumental in shaping the club into what it is today, and without his commitment, Sheffield FC would not be in the position it holds, with 168 years of continuous history."

Mr Tims said he wanted to "extend his sincere gratitude" to everyone who had supported the club through "highs and lows" over the years.

He said receiving the FIFA Order of Merit in 2004, meeting football legend Pele at the club's 150th anniversary and launching the Boots for Africa charity in 2010 were some of his personal highlights.

"What began as a modest project at a rented stadium playing in front of one man and a dog has grown into a globally-recognised brand," said Mr Tims.

Sheffield FC Roll Of Honour:

• FA Amateur Cup Winners 1903/04.
• FA Vase Runners Up 1976/77.

• FA Cup Quarter Finalists 1873/74, 1875/76, 1877/78.

• Northern Premier League Div1 South Play Off Finalists 2007/08.
• Northern Counties East League Runners Up 2006/07.
• Northern Counties East League Cup Winners 2000/01, 2004/05.
• Northern Counties East League Cup Finalists 2002/03, 2005/06.
• Northern Counties East League Divison 1 Champions 1988/89, 1990/91.
• Northern Counties East League Divison 1 Runners Up 1985/86.
• Yorkshire League Cup Winners 1977/78.
• Yorkshire League Cup Finalists 1952/53.
• Yorkshire League Division Two Champions 1976/77.
• Yorkshire League Division Two Promoted 1951/52, 1954/55, 1965/66.
• Yorkshire League Division Three Promoted 1975/76.
• Sheffield & Hallamshire FA Senior Cup Winners 1993/94, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10.
• Whitbread Trophy Winners 1987/88.

The FIFA Order of Merit is the highest honour awarded by FIFA, presented at the annual FIFA Congress. It is normally awarded to people, who are considered to have made a significant contribution to Association Football.

At FIFA's centennial congress, they made one award for every decade of their existence. These awards were also handed out to fans, organisations, clubs, and one to African Merit. These were referred to as the FIFA Centennial Order of Merit.

The winner does not have to be directly involved with football to receive it. One such notable non-footballing personality was Nelson Mandela who won it for bringing South Africa back to international football.

WHY ALWAYS ME?

On this day in 2011, Manchester City stunned Manchester United with an historic 6–1 victory at Old Trafford! 

Mario Balotelli Barwuah: born 12 August 1990 is an Italian professional footballer who plays for UAE First Division club Al-Ittifaq. Regarded as a highly promising player in his youth, Balotelli is a versatile forward with strength, pace and an eye for goal. He is penalty kick specialist. While recognised for his ability, Balotelli has attracted criticism throughout his career for his conduct, work rate and disciplinary record.

Balotelli started his professional football career in 2005 at Lummezane, before joining Inter Milan in 2007. He won the treble (Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Champions League) in 2010. Balotelli reunited with Internazionale manager Roberto Mancini at Manchester City in 2010, helping them win a Premier League and FA Cup. He moved back to Italy in January 2013, signing for Inter's rival club, AC Milan, before returning to the Premier League with Liverpool18 months later. Following a return to Milan on loan, Balotelli departed to France, playing for Nice and Marseille in Lique 1. He returned to Italy a third time, joining Serie A club Brescia in summer 2019, and Serie B club Monza in late 2020. The following summer, Balotelli signed for Turkish club, Adana Demirspol. 

Balotelli earned his first cap for Italy in a friendly match against the Ivory Coast in 2010. He amassed over 30 caps and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2012, the 2013 FIFA Confederation and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He helped the national side reach the Final of Euro 2012, scoring twice against Germany in the semi-finals, and won bronze at the Confederations Cup. Balotelli is Italy's joint-top scorer in the UEFA European Championship, and joint-top scorer in the Champions League and the Confederation Cup.

Mario Balotelli’s iconic “Why Always Me?” celebration became one of the most memorable images of the Premier League era. Edin Džeko scored twice as City completed a famous derby demolition. Is this the greatest Manchester derby performance of all time?

22nd OCTOBER 1966, 1972, 2011

Football on this day, 22nd October 1966 Blackpool's best First Division result in the 1966/67 season came on this day in 1966 when they thumped Newcastle United 6-0 at Bloomfield Road. What made the result even more impressive was the fact that it was also their only home League victory of the season. They finished bottom!

Season	1966–67
Champions	Manchester United 7th Title
Relegated	Aston Villa Blackpool
European Cup	Manchester United
European Cup Winners' Cup	Tottenham Hotspur
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	Nottingham Forest Leeds United Liverpool
Matches	462
Goals	1,387 (3 per match)
Top goalscorer	Ron Davies (37 goals)

and on 22nd October 1972 Travelling home after a session with the Stoke City physio, goalkeeper, Gordon Banks was involved in a car accident which cost him his sight in his right eye and ended the playing career of one of the best goalkeepers the world has known. Worth looking up his "history" if this is new to you!!!

and on 22nd October 2011 It's always good to see foreign players try out some of the British traditions but when Manchester City's Mario Balotelli and friends decided to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night it hit the national headlines. No, not because he got the date wrong, more to do where they let the fireworks off ...........in his bathroom! The resulting fire caused a reported £400,000 of damage to his rented home. The incident happened in the early hours of the day before a reasonably important Premier League fixture for City - against Manchester United at Old Trafford although amazingly it proved to be the perfect preparation for the fixture - Balotelli scored twice in City's 6-1 victory.

A poll at the end of the 20th Century ranked Banks as the second best goalkeeper in the Century.... behind Russian Goalkeeper, Lev Yashin, born 1929. In his career, Yashin in 812 matches, achieved 270 clean sheets. Yashin, a true Russian claimed that seeing fellow Russian, Yuri Gagarin flying in space...anyone remember that?....is only superseded by the joy of a good penalty save!!

Sorry, no music but look it up on www.!!

BOBBY CHARLTON PASSED

 Sir Bobby Charlton passed away on this day 21st October 2023.....I published this "blog" then.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cs5V7fiw9U

In a statement, his family said: "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Sir Bobby passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning. He suffered from a trauma in his lungs, a fall and suffering from dementia, in his nursing home. "He was surrounded by his family. His family would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who has contributed to his care and for the many people who have loved and supported him." Certainly he was a very influential part of my footballing development!!! Read more: https://news.sky.com/story/sir-bobby-charlton-dies-live-updates-tributes-paid-to-england-and-man-utd-football-legend-12989219

Robert Charlton was born in Ashington, Northumberland, England on 11 October 1937 to coal miner Robert "Bob" Charlton (24 May 1909 – April 1982) and Elizabeth Ellen "Cissie" Charlton (née Milburn; 11 November 1912 – 25 March 1996). 

He was related to several professional footballers on his mother's side of the family: his uncles were Jackie Milburn (Leeds United and Bradford City) his mother's cousin, George Milburn (Leeds United and Chesterfield), Jim Milburn (Leeds United and Bradford Park Avenue) and Stan Milburn (Chesterfield, Leicester City and Rochdale), and legendary Newcastle United and England footballer. However, Charlton credits much of the early development of his career to his grandfather Tanner and his mother Cissie. His elder brother, Jack, initially worked as a miner before applying to the police, only to also become a professional footballer with Leeds United and played a huge part in the 1966 World Cup win.

A young Bobby Charlton on the cover of the Argentine sports magazine El Grafico, 27 June 1962!

His Honours

Manchester United Youth

• FA Youth Cup: 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56
  

Manchester United Full team

• Football League First Division: 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67
• FA Cup: 1962–63; runner-up 1956–57, 1957–58
• FA Charity Shield: 1965, 1967
• European Cup: 1967–68

England

• FIFA World Cup: 1966
• UEFA European Championship third place: 1968
• British Home Championship (outright): 1961, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969
  • (shared) 1958, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1970

Individual

• FWA Footballer of the Year: 1965–66
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1966
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1966, 1970
• Ballon d'Or: 1966; runner-up: 1967, 1968
• PFA Merit Award: 1974
• FWA Tribute Award: 1989
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
• Football League 100 Legends: 1998
• English Football Hall of Fame: 2002
• FIFA 100: 2004
• UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: 14th
• PFA England League Team of the Century (1907 to 2007):
  • Team of the Century 1907–1976
  • Overall Team of the Century
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award: 2008
• UEFA President's Award: 2008
• Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: 2012
• FIFA Player of the Century:
  • FIFA internet vote: 16th
  • IFFHS vote: 10th
• World Soccer The Greatest Players of the 20th century: 12th
• IFFHS Legends
• 

Orders and special awards

• Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE): 1969
• Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE): 1974
• Knight Bachelor: 1994
• Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class: 2012

NOTHING LIKE A PUNCH UP

On this day in 1990, Arsenal and Manchester United had a coming together at Old Trafford and it wasn't just a fisty cuffs but kicks flew in too, after Anders Limpar and Denis Irwin initially squared up, leading to a 21 man brawl and yes I bet you are thinking "who missed out?". What about the touchline mob? Well, David Seaman (not really touchline!) sensibly of course, was the only man to not be involved (troo far away?) and some might say that he would have been worried about having his locks tugged! So he stuck to his line...especially if Nayim was knocking around! The FA, of course, took a dim view, fining both clubs £50,000, deducting Arseanl two points and United one...why different?

What Happened??

• The Trigger: In the second half, Arsenal's Nigel Winterburn made a heavy, lunging tackle on Manchester United's Denis Irwin.
• The Melee: United's Brian McClair reacted by kicking out at Winterburn while he was on the ground. Anders Limpar retaliated by punching McClair (leaving McClair needing stitches behind his ear), and Paul Lintz shoved Limpar into the advertising hoardings.
• The Scale: 21 players on the pitch joined the scuffle; Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman was the only player who did not take part.
• The Referee: Keith Hackett handed out yellow cards to only two players—Winterburn and Limpar—and did not issue any red cards during the match. 
• The Football Association docked Arsenal two points and Manchester United one point, alongside a £50,000 fine for both clubs. This marked the first time in English football history that teams lost league points due to player misconduct.
• Internal Fines: Both clubs and Arsenal manager George Graham heavily fined the involved players internally (two weeks' wages for several Arsenal players).
• Legacy: Despite the points deduction, Arsenal used the incident as fuel and went on to  win comfortably, the 1990–91 First Division title, while the match is widely credited with sparking the fierce modern rivalry between the two clubs. I hope this works below....if not just type in the basics of this event, see above:
• https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=fa4011683115049c&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB1034GB1034&cs=0&sxsrf=APpeQnt0YSdSB57XBRJSYKsaMef9YbRZUw:1792504700984&q=Battle+of+Old+Trafford&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiM2tWv4MiXAxUXgP0HHW9vHewQpboHKAR6BAgDEAY&biw=1100&bih=506&dpr=1.75#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f4fa6f34,vid:DqLGrcWRMWg,st:0
  
• 
  
  
  

GOSS AND COHEN-CANARIES

The football match between Bayern Munich and Norwich City was played at the Olympiastadian, Munich, on 19 October 1993, as part of the second round of the 1993-4 UEFA Cup and finished in a   2–1 victory for the English side. Jeremy Goss, below right, and Mark Cohen, below left, scored for Norwich and Christian Nerlinger replied for Bayern; all three goals were scored in the first half. The opening goal by Goss, a volley from outside the area, is considered the greatest goal in Norwich's history and the victory the pinnacle of the club's history.

Norwich had qualified for the season's UEFA Cup after finishing third in the inaugural Premier League season, while Bayern had ended their previous campaign in the 1992-3, Bundesliga in second place. This was Norwich's third competitive match in European football, having defeated SBV Vitesse 3–0 on aggregate in the first round. In contrast, Bayern Munich were playing their 185th European cup tie and had progressed to the second round with a 7–3 aggregate victory over FC Twente.

The result was a huge upset in European football; it was the only victory by a British club against Bayern Munich in their Olympiastadion. That it was Norwich that inflicted the defeat was startling: Norwich were "mere babes at this level" and, according to Goss, "there's no doubt Bayern assumed it would be easy". German sports magazine "Kicker" was critical of Bayern's approach to the match.

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2006	West Ham United	18	(0)
2005–2006	→ Yeovil Town (loan)	30	(1)
2006–2007	Yeovil Town	44	(6)
2007–2018	Nottingham Forest	272	(14)
Total		364	(21)
International career
2003	England U16	3	(0)
2002–2003	England U17	5	(0)
Managerial career
2026–	Lincoln City (joint with Tom Shaw)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2006	West Ham United	18	(0)
2005–2006	→ Yeovil Town (loan)	30	(1)
2006–2007	Yeovil Town	44	(6)
2007–2018	Nottingham Forest	272	(14)
Total		364	(21)
International career
2003	England U16	3	(0)
2002–2003	England U17	5	(0)
Managerial career
2026–	Lincoln City (joint with Tom Shaw)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

The second leg was played on 3 November 1993 and ended in a 1–1 draw, meaning that Norwich won the tie 3–2 on aggregate. They went on to be defeated by eventual champions Internazionale 2–0 over the two legs in the third round. Norwich ended their domestic season in 12th place in the Premier League, while Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, one point ahead of Kaiserslautern.